There is a common theme in our reviews of Ford product is not forest ranger.
We called Concentrate activities “Undervalued”, said Puma play in a space where Ford “never really made money” and describe front-wheel drive Escape like trying to “make the Blue Oval a more prominent player” in the booming mid-size SUV world.
There’s a lot of potential in the Ford lineup, but it hasn’t managed to find a real sales winner beyond its subdued dual-cab, closely related vehicle. Everest Moutain off-roader, and of course the icon Mustang horse wagon.
Because it directly confronts widespread popularity Toyota RAV4the Ford Escape live in a large segment. It has a lot of power, a long list of features and a choice between all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive.
The name Escape is not a new name either. Although it was briefly replaced by the Kuga moniker, the Escape moniker has been around since 2000, when it debuted on Ford’s twin with the Mazda Tribute.
Is the Escape an overlooked gem in the midsize SUV world?
How much does the Ford Escape Vignale cost?
The 2022 Ford Escape Vignale AWD in head-to-head testing against the top versions of most competitors, with its sticker price starting with five.
It’s perfect with Mazda CX-5 Akera 2.5T AWD ($53,180) and Toyota RAV4 Edge AWD Hybrid ($52,700).
Price of Ford Escape 2022:
- Ford Escape FWD: $36,490
- Ford Escape ST-Line FWD: $38,490
- Ford Escape ST-Line AWD: $41,490
- Ford Escape Vignale FWD: $47,090
- Ford Escape Vignale AWD: $50,090
- Ford Escape ST-Line PHEV FWD: $53,440
All prices do not include road costs
You get what?
Highlights of Escape Vignale:
- 10-way power front seats
- Panoramic sunroof
- Semi-automatic parking assistance
- Aluminum door sill panels
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Chrome exterior decoration
- Head-up display
- Matrix LED headlights
- Supported tailgate
It is on top of the following set of standards across the Escape range:
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (wired)
- Satellite positioning
- Wireless phone charger
- DAB + digital radio
- Six-speaker sound system
- Ambient light
- Privacy Glass
- Rain wipers
- LED headlights, tail lights, fog lights
- Power-adjustable, power-folding outside rearview mirror with integrated puddle indicator light
- Keyless entry and start
- Remote start
To be Ford Escape Vignale safe?
Ford Escape carries a Five-star ANCAP safety ratingbased on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2019.
The Escape scored 92% on adult protection and 89% on child protection, 82% on vulnerable road users and 77% on safety assistance.
Dual front airbags, side chest guards and side head guards (curtains) are standard on all Escape models.
All models are equipped with:
- AEB (Cities, Suburbs and Vulnerable Passersby)
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keeping assist
- Centering the lane
- Emergency lane keeping
- Blind spot monitoring
- Rear cross-section support
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Traffic jam assistance
- Monitor the driver’s attention
- Smart speed support
- Traffic sign recognition
- Warning for people in the back seat
- Reverse camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
What is How is the Ford Escape Vignale on the inside?
It’s a practical space and packed with features, but the Vignale’s cabin is missing a certain… wow factor. That’s disappointing, since it’s a $50,000 car before on-road costs.
The driver and passenger sit on leather seats, electrically adjustable, well-supported on long trips, although it feels a bit flat at first. There’s enough adjustment for riders of all shapes to feel comfortable, and the elevated driving position provides a commanding view of the road ahead.
All the things you poke and fall easily in your hand, from rotary shifters to high-end touchscreens, but they don’t look or feel particularly expensive. The gearshift and buttons on the transmission tunnel feel pliable, while the display looks taut and small compared to what’s offered elsewhere in the class.
The mix of wood trim, brushed black plastic, textured door trim and inconsistent stitching, and blue backlighting feels a bit off. Taurus for rent. This does not mean a S-Class rival, but the Mazda CX-5 shows it can deliver a sense of true luxury in a mainstream product.
At least good technology. SYNC remains one of the smarter infotainment systems on the market, with an exhaustive feature list and intelligent natural voice control capabilities, while the digital dashboard is simple but effective.
There’s plenty of storage scattered around the cabin, from the opening tray on the transmission tunnel to the wireless charging dock at the base of the console. There are also moderately sized door bins, with space for large bottles.
Rear-seat space is good in the Escape, although the exterior looks compact. Regular profile and high window lines put it up there with Subaru Forester and Honda CR-VA among the best mid-size SUVs to carry kids around.
Legroom fits taller passengers behind adults, and the panoramic sunroof doesn’t eat too much into headroom. The raised front seats also free up space for chunky boots.
The rear bench slides on its own to allow owners to choose between boot space and legroom. Kids will appreciate the air vents, seat heaters and USB charging points, along with a fold-down center armrest with cup holders.
Ford has fitted two top tethers and three ISOFIX child seat anchors in the cabin.
The boot space is a 556 liters with the rear seats in place, which expands into 1478L with them folded (almost) flat. With its wide, flat floor and wide opening back door, you can comfortably ride the cart or set of golf clubs without any stress.
Below the floor is a space-saving spare wheel.
What’s under the bonnet?
Ford Escape comes standard in the range with 2.0 liters turbochargers four-cylinder gasoline engine manufacturing 183kW power and 387Nm torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
While it’s available with front-wheel drive, our tester was all-wheel drive.
Claimed fuel economy is 8.6 liters per 100km, we saw 7.9L/100km over 1000km while driving off the highway. Around town, the trip computer was around the 10L/100km mark.
Escape premium lead-free 95 RON (minimum) and has 57L gas tank.
How Ford Escape Vignale drive?
The Escape has a strong emphasis in the form of a powerful turbocharged engine. With 183kW of power, it’s one of the most powerful mid-size SUVs in its class and it shows on the road.
Put your feet down and the Escape provides an almost hot jolt, really pushing you back into the chair. Even with all-wheel drive, there’s still a bit of torque diverting through the steering wheel, though the car is smart enough to transfer torque to the rear axle quickly.
It doesn’t sound very inspiring, with a slightly hissing, buzzing sound when you accelerate hard, but there’s no doubt about the engine’s efficiency.
This SUV is almost blossoming quickly, although the slightly sluggish eight-speed automatic means it doesn’t always feel as nimble as it could be. The transmission is smooth in motion and doesn’t cause any nasty surprises at low speeds.
Combined with typical Ford steering – light and quick, with strong self-centering – it makes the Escape even the most luxurious-focused one of its size. more sporty.
Like the Focus with which it shares a platform, it feels light when you’re in a hurry, though the Blue Oval has clearly reverted to sportiness a bit to match the Escape’s more mature payout.
Unfortunately, the large wheels fitted to the Vignale mean it doesn’t perform as well as it really should. Even the standard 19-inch wheels are big, but our tester got the 20s options making it too busy with minor imperfections. It never fully settles down, especially at low speeds.
We know many buyers are willing to sacrifice driving comfort for style, but we wouldn’t mind the 20-inch wheels fitted to this particular Vignale in favor of the 19s.
It’s more comfortable at highway speeds, where its powerful engine and good noise cancellation combine to create a capable cruiser. The engine sits below 2000rpm at 110km/h, so it’s almost silent and doesn’t have as much tire roar as you sometimes see in European-built cars on country roads. Australia’s poor surface.
Off the road, the Escape handles itself reasonably well. It has enough clearance (190mmto be precise) to pass a fairly basic test, although the road-biased tires and on-demand all-wheel drive limited our ability to climb slippery logs.
The all-wheel drive system initially worked very hard to shuffle torque between the axles, but quickly overheated and caused the Escape to spin its front wheels.
How much Ford Escape Vignale cost to run?
Escape is warranted by Ford five-year, unlimited km warrantyincludes the Ford Service Benefit program for roadside assistance, annual satellite navigation map updates, and limited-price service.
Scheduled maintenance is required every 12 months or 15,000 km, whichever comes first.
Each visit for the first four years or 60,000 km is limited to $299total $1196 for the life of the program.
CarExpert’s Undertaking Ford Escape Vignale
It’s a pity that many people don’t buy the Escape, but the Blue Oval needs to bear some fault.
While it’s not a bad car, even the top-of-the-line Vignale AWD struggles to stand out from the crowd.
The ranged tractor is not the same as buying the smartest in the range. It packs a lot of kit and some nice materials around its interior, but they can’t hide the similarities it shares with the $36k base model… or base versions of the hatchback. The mainstream Focus no longer exists.
Good news? The fundamentals are there. The engine is excellent, with enough power to make a large vehicle feel quick and it handles well for a mid-size SUV. You are also not short on space.
A major mid-life refresh with some more interesting interior trim and big screens from the new Focus could see this car return to the limelight, but in its current form, it has possibility remains a lack of understanding.
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THAN: Everything Ford Escape
